Frustration as Rovers miss out on Richards

THERE was frustration for Sligo Rovers on transfer deadline day as the Bit o’Red missed out on re- signing Jordan Richards on loan from Notts County. It’s understood that Jordan, who spent the first half of last season at The Showgrounds, was set for a loan move elsewhere in the UK which fell through at the last minute. Rovers were keen to sign the midfielder, but due to FAI rules, it was too late as his forms needed to be sent via registered post and received prior to Wednesday night’s 11pm deadline. “I was devastated. On a personal level, i think it would have been a fantastic signing for us,” said Rovers boss Dave Robertson. “Unfortunately it was blocked at the 11th hour. I personally even offered to drive a new registration form down there, which would have got there before the deadline but the rules state apparently that it has to be received by registered post.” He added: “That was the loophole or the reason or the justification for it being blocked by the FAI. I was disappointed, my understanding was that as long as the forms in the league department which we had sent electronically in 2017, most businesses would work with electronic systems which then get uploaded on to the FIFA system which is also an electronic system. It wasn’t accepted and there was the offer from me personally but the rules state it has to be sent by registered post in 2017 which i find disappointing.” Rovers failed to make any other signings prior to the season’s start, meaning they have a squad of 18 senior players.

Should any injuries or suspensions come about, Rovers will be struggling for numbers and Robertson confirmed on Friday night that he will start looking into signing out of contract players. “I will be, definitely ( looking into signing out of contract players). I feel that between now and the next window, we’re ok at the minute but there will be times when there are injuries and suspensions etc.”